A lot of us grew up watching movies like Father of the Bride and dreaming about the perfect wedding. Tons of white, flowers everywhere, the big poofy dress! A lot has changed in wedding trends since that movie came out, but one thing is actually pretty popular right now: having the wedding at home. Instead of renting out a hall or venue, using your home or the home of a close family member or friend can be a great way to have a more personal and intimate wedding. It can present a whole different set of problems though, so here are some things to think about for your home-style wedding.
- Make sure that the home is large enough to comfortably accommodate all of your guests. This is especially important in case it rains and everyone has to stay inside. You might have to make some difficult decisions in cutting down your guest list, but on the bright side you don't have to feel so bad about not inviting the second cousin by marriage you haven't seen since you were 5.
- Provide adequate parking for your guests or hire a valet service. Remember the hilarious scene in Father of the Bride where the little kids have to park all the cars? Funny, but you don't want that to happen at your wedding!
- Does the home have enough restrooms? If not, consider renting porta-potties. www.eliterestrooms.com has restroom trailers that are a far cry from the stinky stalls you might find at outdoor events.
- If having the wedding outside rent a tent if your yard is large enough. This is a must for the unpredictable Texas weather. Also consider renting portable fans for those hot summer nights.
- Have your pets boarded for the day. Even if your animals are people friendly 100 people might provoke a different reaction than 4. And with doors constantly opening to let people in and out an animal slipping by might not be noticed.
Rachel & Gary were married at her parents' home. They rented a large tent to party the night away!
- Your home needs to look its best for your wedding day! Touch up paint, make sure plumbing and air conditioning/heating is in good working order, carpets cleaned and landscaping nice and neat. And remember that plants need time to grow so don't wait until the last minute!
- Invite your vendors over to check out the space. Make sure the caterers will have enough room in your kitchen and fridge, the ground is level enough for the dance floor, and that the DJ won't overload your electric circuits.
- Check to see if you'll need a permit for noise or parking.
- If you're not planning on inviting the neighbors, make sure they know about the wedding in advance so they don't throw a party on the same day. Competing music and even less parking does not make for a good time!
- Match your wedding to the decor of the house. If the home is sleek and contemporary a country theme might not be the best. After all one of the advantages of having a wedding at home is that the home is already decorated.
- Just because you're having a wedding at a home doesn't mean that your guests will have a place to stay. Don't let them pressure you into letting them crash at the house, even if they promise not to take up too much space and not get in the way! Your close family members and the wedding party are the only ones who should be around before the ceremony starts.
- If you're having the wedding at your own home make sure you designate someone else to play hostess for the day so you can concentrate on getting dressed and enjoying yourself. A wedding coordinator, even if just for the day of, might be an even more valuable asset for the home wedding then one at a wedding venue that has handled many other weddings.
- Expect a huge mess. When all the guests have partied and gone, cleaning up might be as big of a chore as getting ready! If your wedding was particularly big you might consider hiring a cleaning crew. After all the hard work you've put in, you will probably deserve it!
Cris & John had their wedding at a family member's cabin. The rustic decor set the tone for their simple but elegant affair.
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